A garden diary from the eastern tip of the Isle of Wight

Monthly Archives: April 2017

So, it’s time to come clean – the Acacia move discussed here didn’t end happily. And whilst I’m still glad it’s gone from the Mid Century Bed, having it (temporarily!) in the Lavender Bed made me realise that to have a third tree between the existing two would be good. Consequently I’ve come up with a new plan – a Silk Tree, first seen at Hilliers Garden and shown here.

The variety I’ve bought is smaller than the Hilliers one, Albizia julibrissin ‘Ombrella,’ described by Burncoose (from where I purchased it online) as “A newish variety with cherry-pink fragrant flowers and dark green ferny leaves. Flowers profusely at a young age. Grows to only 10-15 feet”. It was described as ‘large’ (to match the price tag), but if you look carefully at the photo above, it’s the twig to the left with the labels on. Fingers crossed I don’t kill this one!

Below you’ll see the more usual EoMV looking south east across to Bembridge. The arching tree, a crab apple, was fabulous this year – a really deep pink which you could actually see when looking back to the house from the beach – but the blossom, like so many of the bulbs, is now almost completely over.

The photo of the Swing Beds this time last year still had plenty of tulips, but this year there weren’t as many and they’re largely finished. I was about to write that I hadn’t planted any new ones, but just checked and I did – 80. I think someone has been having a nibble!

One good patch of colour in the foreground is provided by the sugary, seed grown Antirrhinum majus ‘The Rose’ I was so critical of last year (and threatened to pull out), but actually, bulked up, is providing a good match for the remaining ‘Menton’ and ‘Mistress’ tulips.

The Grass Bed was also better a couple of weeks ago, but has also suffered from a critter with the munchies. Before the forget me nots grew up I came back one weekend to find numerous bulb sized empty holes where there should have been 50 Spring Green Tulips. Grrr.

Here’s one, you’ll have to imagine the rest!

Round to the Mid Century Bed, this does still have some tulips, and loads of self seeded Cerinthe and Euphorbia.

In the gap left by moving (er, killing) the Acacia I’ve now planted a Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’.

(I already planted one in the Oak Bed and perhaps should have gone with an evergreen such as Pittosporum ‘Tom Thumb’ as some of you suggested, but I’m afraid this is a total ‘mum memory’ plant from a wonderful visit we did together to Beth Chatto’s Garden, and planting it here I’ll be able to see it from the kitchen table).

The one in the Oak Bed is just coming into leaf

and possibly flower. (It hasn’t flowered that reliably as I think the site is a little too shady. Hopefully the one in the MCB will like its surroundings better).

The bulbs in the Bronze Bed are largely over (much earlier than last year) and the Wisteria is also turning brown around the edges. Meanwhile the Melianthus major has gone bonkers. I’ve discussed this before, but I really should cut it back, but with the garden opening in two months (aargh!), I just can’t bring myself to do it. This autumn, though, it MUST happen!

Out on the Drive Bed the Erysimum ‘Ivory Giant’ grown from seed last year are finally making their mark and I’m hoping they’ll still be flowering when the Sisyrinchiums and Rose ‘Snow Goose’ join the party.

In the veg patch there is nothing except the moved rhubarb (looking a little ‘unsettled’ if you know what I mean) a few Broad Beans and plenty of raspberry canes which need tying in.

In the Strawberry Bed the Agapanthus are threatening to take over, potentially prompting a renaming!

Meanwhile the daughter, who spent last summer in the States working at a summer camp (and consequently was barely home for a fortnight all summer), will be around more this year and is putting in requests for more strawberry plants to fill the gap left by the rhubarb. As that space is currently only colonised by forget me nots, I think she has a point.

Round the back of the house in a skinny north facing bed ,the Hostas are looking immaculate – so far. I’ve used the Slug Gone wool pellets again, but last year they did seem to lose efficacy later on. Probably I should have reapplied.

In the meantime I’ll admire the (doubtless temporary) perfection!

In the greenhouse there are hundreds of similarly perfect little seeds. So full of hope, right up until I don’t plant them on, don’t plant them out and chuck them on the compost!

The plan is to spend this afternoon with the rain lashing down in the greenhouse fiddling with seeds. I hope there’s something good on the radio!

Meanwhile, the Winter Sunshine Sweet Peas don’t need any attention, they can just be enjoyed. Wish I could bottle and share their scent in a warm greenhouse on a sunny day!

Today’s vase is largely a repeat of last week’s with Erysimum Bowles Mauve, Cerinthe major purpurescens

Winter Sunshine Sweet Peas and, this week, the addition of some Anemone Coronaria.

But oh, what’s also joined the Repeat Repeat jug featured last week? Two beautiful mugs!

My lovely friend Jo who came to stay this weekend was looking for a gift to bring and, reading my comment last week “they do mugs too, but so far I’ve resisted”, generously ordered them and they were delivered on Saturday, much to my obvious delight!

So, thanks to Cathy for hosting this lovely meme, but huge thanks too to Jo, for making a little dream come true!

It’s been a busy old Easter weekend with a trip to the dump on Friday (!) the mainland on Saturday, plenty of ‘housey’ issues to sort, and a college deadline to draw 10 construction drawings of steps, walls etc which I only started on Sunday (aaargh!) and am still struggling through.

Consequently, and sadly, gardening and blogging seem to have got rather squeezed out. However, some things are important and, although I’ve taken photos for Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day (due on the 15th!) I thought I’d allow myself a blogging minute and instead of catching up with that, I’m catching up with Cathy and all her lovely gang who take part in In a Vase on Monday.

My vase this week is a purple affair of Cerinthe major purpurescens, together with Tulip Queen of the Night.

Further purple is provided by the stalwart Erysimum Bowles Mauve,

and the whole lot lightened up by the pretty Narcissus Lieke. The vase itself is another from Repeat Repeat (see larger one here). I persuaded my sister to by this for the OH as a Christmas present (and I bought an even smaller one). I just love the simple relief pattern. They do mugs too, but so far I’ve resisted!

With thanks to Cathy who hosts all our vases, and provides a calm, flowery oasis to Mondays.